The NHL lockout is over, and Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves trailing on the Stanley Cup odds at the sportsbooks as the shortened season gets underway.
The Penguins lost in the first round of last year’s playoffs to the Philadelphia Flyers, and they’re at 17/2 on the NHL futures at Bodog right now to win the Stanley Cup in 2013.
That has the Pens just behind the 8/1 New York Rangers, who added forward Rick Nash to their roster last summer after falling to the New Jersey Devils in last year’s Eastern final. Rangers forward Marian Gaborik, who had shoulder surgery last June, is ready for the start of the season.
The Vancouver Canucks are then at 11/1 on the odds to win the Stanley Cup, which has them just ahead of the 12/1 Boston Bruins, the 12/1 St. Louis Blues, and the defending-champion 14/1 Los Angeles Kings. Vancouver lost to Los Angeles in five games in the first round of last year’s playoffs despite being the top seed in the West.
The Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers are also at 14/1 on the current NHL title futures at Bodog, with the Detroit Red Wings back at 22/1; the Wings will be without retired defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom this season.
Down at the bottom of the list, the Columbus Blue Jackets are the longest of the longshots at 100/1 odds to win the Stanley Cup this season after they dealt top star Nash to the Rangers. The New York Islanders are just ahead of them at 75/1 on those current odds.
Odds to Win 2013 Stanley Cup at Bodog:
New York Rangers 8/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 17/2
Vancouver Canucks 11/1
Boston Bruins 12/1
St. Louis Blues 12/1
Chicago Blackhawks 14/1
Los Angeles Kings 14/1
Philadelphia Flyers 14/1
Edmonton Oilers 16/1
Minnesota Wild 18/1
Carolina Hurricanes 22/1
Detroit Red Wings 22/1
San Jose Sharks 25/1
Washington Capitals 25/1
Buffalo Sabres 30/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 30/1
Nashville Predators 33/1
New Jersey Devils 33/1
Montreal Canadiens 35/1
Calgary Flames 40/1
Dallas Stars 40/1
Florida Panthers 40/1
Ottawa Senators 40/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 40/1
Anaheim Ducks 45/1
Colorado Avalanche 50/1
Phoenix Coyotes 50/1
Winnipeg Jets 66/1
New York Islanders 75/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 100/1